Failed child abductions alarm Bulacan residents

BUSTOS, Bulacan – Seven failed child abductions since December alarmed officials and residents of this town forcing parents to keep watch over their children.

Local police confirmed incidents of failed abductions as parents reported it to them on Thursday, when the latest incident happened, but declined to comment on the fear of parents that suspects maybe involved in the reported organ trafficking. 

“It’s really alarming because it’s not a simple case,” said Chief Inspector Gerardo Andaya, the local police chief when interviewed by The STAR on Friday afternoon. 

He said that at least two incidents were formally reported to him by parents, while local village chiefs relayed the same to him.

To allay fears, Andaya said he ordered roving police patrol within the vicinity of local schools and advised parents and village watchmen to be more vigilant. 

On Thursday morning, school principals from different public elementary and high schools here called for an emergency meeting with parents to address the issue

Matilde Zamora, the district supervisor of the Department of Education in this town said that they advised parents to keep close watch on their children in going and coming from school.

“We advised the parents na hangga’t maaari ay ihatid sa school ang mga bata at sunduin kapag uwian, at yung mga bata namang hindi maihahatid at masusundo ay magsasabay-sabay sa pag-uwi at pagpasok sa school,” Zamora said. 

She said that based on their interviews with students, there are at least seven students who were able to foil attempted abductions. 

Atanacia Gumabon, the principal of Alexis Santos High School at Barangay Liciada here said they only learned of the incidents on Thursday, but based on students’ statements, attempts started as early as December. 

Three of the students, including a pair of 14-year-old male twins who survived the attempts faced the media on Friday afternoon with their parents and teachers.

The twins who are studying at Alexis Santos High School told The STAR that a female suspect who introduced herself as a dentist seemed to have hypnotized them.

They said that on Thursday, around 7 a.m. they were on their way to school when the female suspect blocked their path and tried to drag them inside a black Delica van, but they fought her by kicking her legs and throwing their school bags at her.

The twins said that when the van’s door opened, they saw four boys inside with their heads down, with two men in ski mask and a driver with shaven head. 

“Pang-limang beses na po iyon, nung una at noong bago mag-Christmas vacation,” one of the twins said noting the same female suspect usually block their path when they were walking to, or from school. 

On the fourth attempt last week, they said they informed their father, Felipe Reyes about it. 

But the father told The STAR that he first thought that his twins were just making up a story, until Thursday when the fifth attempt happened and he accompanied them to the police to report the incident.